Anthony Thyssen

About Anthony...

I am a systems programmer here at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, and enjoy my position here. I
have a tendency to 'blab' and be a know-it-all. I like programming,
and graphics which I never seem to get enough of. I also like sharing
my knowledge and helping anyone and everyone, in any way I can.

I am also the web-master for the ICT Information Server, and was the first to provide such
a permanent WWW service Queensland, Australia. Also system programmer
and web-master for 3 other large machines.

What I really am is a hacker (original meaning, not the cracker meaning
of the media) and as such, live on COKE and often work into the wee hours of
the mornings. A sign which once appeared on my door says "Real
Programmers do their best work between 1 and 5 am", about which I totally
agree. Though my boss, and wife don't!

Computer System Setup, Security and Maintenance,
Compilation and Installation of Software
including: GNU Configured, RPM's, Solaris Packages, Licences
and debugging install to run when standard installation fails
General Installation of Computer Hardware (mainframe or desktop)
Basic use a soldering/electronic skills for patching cables,
and minor faults.

Dungeons and Dragons (check out my home page!), though I haven't been
involved with the game for a long time.

Playing
Ancient Chinese game of Go. The Rules of Go are extremely simple but the
game takes a very long time to master (which I haven't). You may even
look at the old play by mail game, which
is still located in the castle Castle
Library

General Mathematics, especially geometry, polyhedra, and 3D vector math.
For example see my Studies into
Polyhedra

You can also have a look at my
SciFi Book Library listing the books I currently have in my collection
(and have read) and includes the books which I would like to get
sometime in the future.

I Love Dragons

My favourite is a "Faerie Dragon" , which is described as:-
Faerie Dragon (Draco Mischievous Chaoticous): This is a small dragon
about 2 feet long with large colorful butterfly wings, long prehensile
tails, and a huge mischievous grin, usually living in the deep forests.

While the dragons claws and bite is not particularly dangerous as
dragons go, they are highly magical, with a huge repertoire of magical
spells and can become invisible at will. Its breath weapon (it is a
dragon after all) is also not very dangerous, consisting of a two foot
sphere of "euphoria" gas, which can incapacitate a humanoid creature
for a couple of days or so.

They are also great practical jokers, as such ogres encountering a
faerie dragon may find themselves turned into gnomes or worse. They
will use their magic at any opportunity to wreak mischief on any
passersby. In fact they are known to pick and chose spells solely for
their mischief potential, and not for any attack or defensive
capability. Of course a knight in armour which has rusted solid, and
in desperate need of a can opener, will not be able to put up much of
an attack on a Faerie Dragon. Though many faerie dragon pranks are
spur-of-the-moment affairs, months of preparation often go into a
single grand practical joke.

Only a faerie dragons insatiable love of fruit pies (apple, raspberry,
peach, etc), is greater than its love of a good practical joke, and
they will go to almost any lengths for a fresh one.